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February 18, 2020 Guides » BTV Magazine

The Scenic Route: Three Trips to Artist Studios

By Margaret Grayson @mgrayson11

Published February 18, 2020 at 6:00 a.m.

click to enlarge

Underhill Ironworks - COURTESY OF UNDERHILL IRONWORKS

Courtesy Of Underhill Ironworks
Underhill Ironworks

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Sometimes you need to get out of Burlington. There, we said it! Yes, this city has most of the things you could ever want: renowned breweries, unique restaurants, miles of lakeside trail, and a thriving arts and music scene. But that doesn't mean you should overlook the rest of Vermont, where someone is doing something cool in every little town or village.

The Green Mountain State is a haven for creative types, and there's no better showcase of artistic and geographic diversity than the Vermont Crafts Council's biannual Open Studio Weekend, organized by director Martha Fitch. In spring and fall, artists across the state open their doors, allowing visitors a peek into their lives and workspaces.

This season's event takes place on May 23 and 24 — but if your visit spans different dates, many artists are happy to take individual appointments. Read on to discover three studios, within an hour or less, that are well worth a day trip.

Underhill Ironworks

Underhill, geraldkstoner.com

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Glenn Russell
Gerald K. Stoner

To really get a sense of Gerald K. Stoner's steel sculptures, visiting his studio is vital. That's because many of his creations are taller than a room's ceiling and bulkier than a kitchen table. The abstract shapes of his sculptures, while beautiful, make for unwieldy transportation.

Open Studio Weekend, Stoner says, "is the one opportunity that I'm gonna get to have 50 to 70 pieces on display for people to see. Because it's a lot of work to lug these pieces around."

A visit to Stoner's property entails wandering around a full sculpture garden of his work. This might include anything from a small herd of abstract horses to a towering stack of geometric shapes secured with curved steel bands. Despite its industrial nature and naturally rigid material, his metal work reflects movement, he says.

Stoner first began welding in college, where he'd originally pursued a degree in photography. He's now an art teacher at St. Albans High School and the Community College of Vermont. He says working with steel called to him immediately.

"It just seemed to resonate with me. I had family members that had worked in steel mills in the Midwest," he says. "It really seemed to be the kind of thing that worked in terms of what I was trying to say visually."

What's Nearby?

Poorhouse Pies: All you need are four words: self-service pie shed. Yes, it's an actual shed in Underhill that Jamie and Paula Eisenberg stock with pies from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day but Wednesday. Check Facebook for updates before you go.
ArtHound Gallery: Want to see even more local art? On the drive back to Burlington, drop in to this 7,400-square-foot gallery. Artist-authors John and Jennifer Churchman opened it in late 2019 to provide Vermont artists with another opportunity to show and sell their work.

Noel Bailey Ceramics

Waitsfield, noelbaileyceramics.com

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Noel Bailey Ceramics - COURTESY OF COREY HENDRICKSON/NOEL BAILEY

Courtesy Of Corey Hendrickson/noel Bailey
Noel Bailey Ceramics

Noel Bailey grew up in the desert, on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. That's where he fell in love with pottery as a high schooler, and the otherworldly shapes of wind-eroded sandstone formations are reflected in his work.

Bailey makes functional pottery — plates, bowls, mugs and the like — but they're incredibly sculptural, glazed in white with hints of metallic color. Each resembles the inside of an oyster's shell, or the ice at the edge of a river. That latter comparison speaks to the artist's current inspiration. Since moving to Vermont — far from his familiar desert rocks — seven years ago, Bailey has had to discover new influences, such as ice and snow.

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Noel Bailey - COURTESY OF COREY HENDRICKSON/NOEL BAILEY

Courtesy Of Corey Hendrickson/noel Bailey
Noel Bailey

"I'm really interested in asymmetry and just really graceful, fluid lines," he says.

But the details of those organic shapes are still largely dictated by the function of the piece. Bailey wants his mug handles to rest comfortably in people's hands, and the rim of a cup to feel natural against their mouths.

"I definitely have things that I love just to look at," says Bailey. "But, to me, that's one of the coolest things about pottery ... It's something you can use, as well."

A visitor to his home studio can see pots at various stages in the creation process, learn how Bailey makes his own clays and glazes, and view the kilns in an outside shed where his unique pieces are fired.

What's Nearby?

Canteen Creemee Company: The iconic roadside snack bar serves up decadent, Instagram-worthy creemees (Vermont's term for soft-serve ice cream), burgers and crispy fried chicken.
Lawson's Finest Liquids: Sean Lawson's hoppy IPAs and sought-after maple brews draw visitors to his timber-frame taproom. Try the award-winning Sip of Sunshine.

Wind's Edge Studio

Johnson, windsedgestudio.com

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Wind's Edge Studio - COURTESY OF WIND'S EDGE STUDIO

Courtesy Of Wind's Edge Studio
Wind's Edge Studio

Husband and wife Matt and Marion Seasholtz work in wildly different mediums, but they find a lot to love about sharing their lives as artists.

Matt is a glassblower who worked in a Pennsylvania glass shop for nearly two decades, all the while developing his own style and body of work. Marion is a quilter, educated at the Philadelphia College of Art. Her work has evolved to include creating flags and wind socks for businesses, as well as selling quilting kits and hand-dyed fabric. The two met at a retail show where their booths were across from each other.

"I've always been interested in glass and collecting glass," Marion says. So she went to Matt's booth to say hi. "A friendship started, and then the rest was history."

Today, Marion's studio is in the basement of their secluded Johnson property. Matt has recently relocated his studio to a new barn outside. Despite their separate spaces, both artists say it's helpful to have someone around to consult on the creative and business sides of their work.

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Marion Seasholtz - COURTESY OF WIND'S EDGE STUDIO/LAUREN STAGNITTI

Courtesy Of Wind's Edge Studio/lauren Stagnitti
Marion Seasholtz

"Matt and I have a very similar color sense and design sense," Marion says. "We can bounce ideas off of each other and suggest things to each other."

Visitors will see a large variety of both artists' work. Matt often gives glassblowing demonstrations.

"You can see the process. You're in the room right behind my bench where I'm working, so you can kind of get a feel for the heat," he says. "You get a little taste of what glassblowing is about."

What's Nearby?

Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits: Outside of the state, Vermont may not be known as wine country, but don't tell that to the Boydens. The Cambridge family has been farming the same land for more than a century and produces red and white wines, ciders, and Vermont Ice Maple Créme liqueur.
Prospect Rock: For a mini excursion on Vermont's famous Long Trail, visitors can hike up to Prospect Rock. It's roughly three miles round-trip, providing beautiful views of the Lamoille River Valley and surrounding mountains.
Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: Stretch your legs and explore the scenery along the 33 completed miles of this rail trail. It's nearly perfectly flat and friendly to pedestrians and cyclists alike.

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Courtesy Of Underhill Ironworks
Underhill Ironworks

Parfois, il faut sortir de Burlington. Voilà, c'est dit! Certes, la ville offre pratiquement tout ce que vous pouvez désirer : des brasseries réputées, des restaurants uniques, des kilomètres de sentiers au bord du lac ainsi qu'une scène artistique et musicale dynamique. Mais cela ne veut pas dire qu'il faut négliger le reste du Vermont, où chaque ville et village a quelque chose d'original à proposer.

L'État des Montagnes vertes est une véritable ruche de créativité, et il n'y a pas meilleure manifestation de diversité artistique et culturelle que l'Open Studio Weekend du Vermont Crafts Council, qui a lieu deux fois par année sous la houlette de la directrice, Martha Fitch. Au printemps et à l'automne, des artistes de partout dans l'État ouvrent leurs portes, permettant ainsi aux visiteurs de jeter un regard privilégié sur leur vie et leur espace de travail.

L'événement de cette saison aura lieu les 23 et 24 mai, mais si votre séjour ne coïncide pas avec ces dates, de nombreux artistes se feront un plaisir de vous rencontrer individuellement sur rendez-vous. Lisez ce qui suit pour découvrir trois ateliers, tous situés à moins d'une heure de route, qui valent le détour.